A function of systolic blood pressure variability and average diastolic pressure predicted total white matter hyperintensities in older adults with cardiovascular disease.
Cross-Sectional (n=39)
Is blood pressure variability associated with white matter hyperintensities in older adults with cardiovascular disease?
Blood pressure variability is an important contributor to white matter hyperintensities in older adults with cardiovascular disease, with differential relationships across brain regions.
The present study examined the relationship between multiple blood pressure (BP) indices and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in a sample of 39 older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Resting BP was measured using an automated monitor every 10 min for 2 h. WMH were quantified on FLAIR images and separate indices were generated for neocortical, periventricular and subcortical brain regions. Correlation analyses revealed systolic BP variability was related to neocortical and total WMH. A function of systolic BP variability and average diastolic pressure showed the strongest relationships, including significant correlation to neocortical, subcortical and total WMH. No BP index was related to WMH in periventricular regions. Exploratory analyses showed only the function of systolic BP variability and average diastolic pressure predicted total WMH, whereas as age, CVD conditions and psychosocial factors did not. These findings demonstrate BP variability is an important contributor to WMH in older adults with CVD and suggests it may have differential relationships to WMH in different brain regions. Additional studies are needed to examine the role of autoregulatory systems in the development of WMH, particularly those using beat-to-beat measures of BP.
Gunstad et al. (Sat,) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease (n=39). Blood pressure variability was evaluated on White matter hyperintensities (WMH) in neocortical, periventricular and subcortical brain regions. A function of systolic blood pressure variability and average diastolic pressure predicted total white matter hyperintensities in older adults with cardiovascular disease.